On the Message of Christmas

1 Kings 19:9-12 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 So he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." 11 Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD. ' And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

Many people are “in search of God.” To most of these, God seems frustratingly impossible to find. Believers and unbelievers alike often find themselves seeking some sort of proof, a spiritual “5 Miles To What You’re Looking For” sign on the path of life. There are questions we all face: How will this turn out? Am I doing the right thing? Why me? God, are you really out there?

We tend to look for God in the grandiose, in natural disasters or what we perceive as the unexplained miraculous. Our human concept of God says that He is a big God, and because of this human concept, we attach human attributes to His presence. We imagine God to reveal Himself the way a celebrity or some other VIP would present themselves: a red carpet, bells and whistles, a big production.

But, you know, even though God is indeed a big God, even though He has all power and glory, He is most often and most clearly made known in the softest and smallest of ways. We expect the earth to move, the heavens to shake with the rolling thunder, fireworks and cold chills and emotion. God can make Himself known in those ways; He has before. But the most effective, the most meaningful ways are far, far different.

Elijah, in a fearful and weak and all-too-human moment, came before the Lord seeking reassurance, seeking strength, just seeking the Lord. What was humanly expected, happened: a powerful wind, strong enough to break the rocks into pieces, blew through the mountains before Elijah. But the Lord was not in the wind. The earth shook, the very foundation beneath Elijah’s feet rolled to show its own weakness; yet the Lord was not present in the earthquake. Nor was His presence in the fire that passed by, burning with a fervent heat all that could be consumed. But then in a moment of peace came a still, small voice. Here, then, was the Lord.

For centuries, Israel waited for their Messiah, but their Messiah never came. They looked for an exalted king, a military conqueror, another Caesar. Many had come in the name of violence and power, but the Lord was nowhere to be found. Then, in a moment of peace came the presence of God. Very few people noted the day as anything special, as anything out of the ordinary. Yet from this day forward, the world would never be the same.

Out of the way, hidden among so many travelers and their hectic schedules, lost within the struggles and trials of so many individuals seeking an elusive hope, the Lord God became flesh to dwell among us, to bring light and life to all those who would accept Him. The loudest statement God ever made to the world was spoken in the small cry of a newborn Baby, lying in a manger.

Throughout His life, Jesus proved that the Lord says more with less; He was the most forceful when the meekest; He was strongest when He was weakest. This should be the lesson for us all as we search for the Lord. Seek not after the winds, the earthquakes, the fires. Seek after the still, small voice of God.

That is the lesson of Christmas: the Lord can be found, if only you know where (and how) to look. God is great, there is no doubt. But God’s greatness is most often seen and heard and felt not in colossal displays, but in those quiet, personal moments. This Christmas, allow the still, small voice of God move within your heart. Allow the silent night of Christ’s birth speak volumes to your soul. Contemplate just how miraculous, how meaningful, and how earth-shattering that one tiny life would be to all generations.

The birth of Jesus is more than a virgin mother, more than a stable, a star, and shepherds. It is God speaking directly to us all, from the loftiest to the lowliest. What does the Lord have to say to you? To me? To the world? Listen for His still, small voice. Let your soul listen to the message of the birth of Jesus, not just the story of that birth. Don’t try to fit God into your own understanding. Allow your understanding to be molded and shaped by, to be receptive to the voice of the Lord, and you will find what you’re seeking.

May you have a blessed Christmas. My prayers are with you.

© 2005, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by writing to soulscape@alltel.net. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.

All I Want For Christmas Is A Mutually Acceptable Expression Of A Non-Specific and Non-Offensive Holiday Observance

I sit contemplating a blog entry that in some respects hasn’t much to do with Christmas, but daily seems to grow closer to it in relation to some current controversies. This relationship has been seen in various forms over recent months and years, and most especially this season. While trying not to overly mix religion and politics, it now seems inevitable, and I feel I must state my view. Agree with me, don’t agree with me. It’s entirely up to you.

We do indeed live in a plural society, a hodgepodge of race, creed, and opinion. The freedom enjoyed in America is truly coveted throughout the world. But such a society is not and should not be an arena for what I will call “warm-and-fuzzy-ism,” which is defined as the movement to make every person, everywhere, feel all warm and fuzzy, no matter what it takes. Recently it has become almost fashionable to contest anything and everything that might be considered the least bit offensive to as little as one or two people, even to the point of being ridiculous. I mean, I find it very hard to believe that there are people who can't sleep at night knowing an 8x10 copy of the Ten Commandments is hanging on a wall at the courthouse.

As “warm-and-fuzzy-ism” extends its ever-widening arc over the citizenry, nothing is, shall we say, sacred. For years a handful of people have embarked on a quest of social equality, claiming the rights of the little man, defense of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, all the while doing more damage to the thing they hold most dear by misinterpreting it.

The so-called “separation of church and state” clause was never meant to keep God out of government, but to keep government out of God. By that, I mean that this separation was designed not to eliminate any and all public religious references, but to prevent a state-mandated religious creed. Yet over the years, and so much the more in recent days, countless attempts have been made to remove all mention of God and Christianity from the public arena. The reason? Someone might be offended.

Oh, my stars! Quick! Someone call the self-esteem police.

I firmly believe every person has value, that each is entitled to their own opinion. But to honestly believe that every little thing that a person finds even slightly objectionable should be run out of the public conscience on a non-denominational, all-inclusive rail is, frankly, the height of absurdity. If you put five people in a room together, within a few minutes you will begin to find disagreements, differences of opinions, in any number of topics. That doesn’t mean you outlaw conversation.

By claiming to defend the beliefs and rights of those who do not agree with “In God We Trust,” “One Nation Under God,” and “Merry Christmas,” by trying to remove said references, are not the rights of those in support of these phrases being trampled under foot?

If “Merry Christmas” has become taboo, then so must references to Ramadan, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Easter. These are religious, you say. They, too, have no place in the modern lexicon of America. Okay. Get rid of them however you want: executive mandate, judicial legislation, religious witch-hunt. But if I must succumb to this ridiculous philosophical tirade, then you must succumb to mine.

I am not a big fan of the heat of summer, and am deeply offended that I cannot enjoy Independence Day without roasting in the July sun. Therefore, I propose to do away with Independence Day. In addition to this, I feel that the rights and self-esteem of those not enjoying America’s liberty are taunted by the celebration of freedom on July 4. So, I move that all outward displays of patriotism and national pride be suspended for the common good.

Feel free to light a sparkler and fire cracker next Independence Day . . .just do it indoors, in the privacy of a dark closet, so as not to offend anyone.

And while we’re at it, I am allergic to some trees. I move to abolish Arbor Day, and remove the disgraceful public display of foliage from all federal and private lands, municipal parks and mall food courts frequented by those of us who suffer so greatly under the thumb of our woodland overlords.

The blind cannot enjoy the beauty of the sunshine as we, the sighted, are able. In an effort to extend the same rights and courtesies to them, I move that we abolish daylight.

And finally, there are many people who will be making their New Year’s resolution to diet and lose weight. To help them maintain their positive image of self-worth, so as not to succumb to the temptations of food and drink, I suggest we do away with all forms of sustenance.

As you can see, this is absurd, as this bit of hyperbole was intended. We live in a big country, and it is impossible to totally level every playing field. Saying “Merry Christmas” is not force-feeding religion on anyone, nor is it when saying “One Nation Under God” in the pledge to our flag, a flag for which so many have bled and died so that we have the right to bring such unreasonable controversies into the mainstream.

You may not agree with me, and I may not agree with you. Get over it. Celebrate the birth of Christ or not, it won’t kill you to hear “Merry Christmas.” Just nod and be on your way. Don’t make a federal case out of it (literally). There are far too many real problems to worry about than this. And besides, with violent crime, hunger and poverty, is God really so terrible that we have to focus on removing Him first?

I will post again around Christmas. Until then, enjoy the season.

And MERRY CHRISTMAS!

© 2005, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by writing to soulscape@alltel.net. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.

Growing, Growing, Grown

I don’t know if it’s the closing of yet another fast-paced year causing me to ruminate on the topic of becoming mature, or acutely observing the absence of that characteristic in those who should possess it, but I have had this topic on my mind for a couple of weeks. The views expressed herein are the commentator’s alone, and do not necessarily reflect those of anyone else in particular.

I think everyone has a different view of what it means to ‘grow up.’ For some, it might be reaching the milestones: getting your driver’s license, voting for the first time, turning 21 or turning 30. For others, it might be achieving a certain recognition or status or position. Whatever it might be, we all grow up, or hope to grow up.

Compared to some, I’ve been grown up for a long time. Still, I have wondered about just how “grown up” I was. Realization came just last week. I discovered that, at least for me, you know you’ve grown up when It’s A Wonderful Life makes you cry like a baby. I’ve seen my grandfather and uncles watch that movie year after year, chins all a-quiver as the citizens of Bedford Falls come to the aid of George Bailey. Then as George reads Clarence’s words written at the beginning of Tom Sawyer, realizing that, “No man is a failure who has friends,” I would glance over and see a Kleenex moment: suitable for a Norman Rockwell, Saturday Evening Post cover.

“You’ve seen that a thousand times!” I would say in the stunned, embarrassed disgust of youth. “Why do you cry EVERY time? It’s not like you didn’t know it was coming.” Now that I’m older, have a child, know more of what life’s about . . .I still can’t explain it. But I know it now affects me the same way.

There are interesting, amusing and varying ways we discover we’ve grown up, and at some point we discover that growing up is not as fun as it seemed it would be on the young end of life. With growing up comes grown-up responsibilities, worries and problems, most of which we could do without.

I speak not of what many may consider the sure signs of age. A friend observed some of these signs in a recent birthday blog entry of his own. I submit a portion of his observation on his 29th birthday (Happy Birthday, Jason!):

"Jenny pulled 12 white hairs out of my head before I made her stop . . . I have crows feet . . . I can grow a beard . . . All my weight is in my belly. My belt buckle hurts me . . .30 is 365 much-shorter-than-they-used-to-be days away. 30 is grown up."

Jason goes on to say that “29 is better than 23,” despite the physical changes, because with age comes a greater awareness and understanding, a greater maturity if you will, than was possible at younger ages, despite what was perceived at 23.

I’ve certainly had to admit, rather painfully and grudgingly, that at those pivotal moments of my early life when I made the “mature, right decision,” I hadn’t the faintest inkling of what the “mature, right decision” truly was. But for all those moments past, I now have a better appreciation of what maturity means, and have drawn a little better bead on what decisions are called for in a given situation.

I still have a lot to learn. (This admission is, in my opinion, one of the first steps to continued maturing. If you can’t say this, you’re nowhere near mature.)

What is necessary in life, Christian or otherwise, is that we must learn from our past. We must mature. Recall what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:11: When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. We should still hold fast to the excitement of life, the sense of awe and wonder, the expectation and hope of youth; we should still have fun and enjoy life, but we should “grow up,” in the sense that we should not just take from life, but contribute to it in a meaningful way.

So, as I fumble for my remote, I reach for the box of tissues. I press PLAY to watch Bert the Cop and Ernie the Cab-driver. I look forward that scurvy little spider Mr. Potter, the wonderful old Building and Loan, and Zuzu’s petals. I think what makes life so wonderful is that while we’re here, we can make a difference in at least one person’s life, even if it’s our own.

Let the tears come. I’m mature enough to let them fall.

Atta boy, Clarence.


© 2005, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by writing to soulscape@alltel.net. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.

What Is Today?

2 Corinthians 6:2 -- For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

Time is short. We don’t know what the future holds. These, and other pearls of wisdom, have been passed down to us from preceding generations, and no doubt we will also pass them down to our children and grandchildren. We do this, not because it’s just something people do as they get older, but because we are truly concerned with the future of those we care about, and those old sayings are 100% true.

Pastors often quote this verse, urging people to come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. It’s a true and effective verse for such a time and situation. If you are aware of a need for Jesus in your heart, that moment is the time to act, for the Holy Spirit is dealing with you, and it is the perfect time to set things right in your soul.

But, this verse has a deeper meaning. It certainly refers to the salvation of a soul, the forgiveness of sins and the new-birth experience. It also has a meaning which concerns the daily walk of the Christian. This seldom-explored meaning should be a the forefront of our Christian experience, and will help us become who God wants us to be.

Through our Bible study or prayer time, through the lessons and sermons given by our teachers and pastors, God speaks to us, showing us those areas in which we don’t quite measure up. We are shown by the Spirit the reality of our motives and attitudes, and sometimes it is not a pretty picture. Perhaps we have known the Lord for many years, or maybe just a short time. It doesn’t really matter which; all of us have plenty of things in our life that shouldn’t be there, and we all have plenty of room to grow and mature.

The thing is this: we don’t know how much time we have left to make those necessary changes. Time is short, and we don’t know what the future holds. This week, a tragedy occurred which clearly illustrated this point. A young girl, just eighteen years old, whose relationship to me could be most closely described as a step-niece, was shot and killed in a random shooting in our quiet little town. She was not the target, drugs and alcohol were not involved. It just happened that she was near a window when the shooting outside started. She was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

She had gathered with friends Tuesday evening. There were pizza and video games and laughter. With her entire life ahead of her, she was having fun with friends, doing nothing dangerous, not taking a risk at all. Then, suddenly, one stray bullet struck her in the head, and her life came to an end, in a way, before it even began.

None of us, young or old, knows what the next moment holds. We might be very careful, never taking any risks; we might be healthy and strong, intelligent, thinking we have everything together (or, at least, that we have plenty of time to get everything together). One day, we might be sitting in the comfort of our own living room, watching television or talking with our family, and the next instant, we will be standing in the presence of the Lord.

We are not guaranteed one more moment of life on this earth. This is why it is so vitally important that when we feel the moving of the Spirit of God within our hearts, we follow His leading and, if necessary, make the changes He shows us we need to make. If it is coming to know Him for the first time, or if it is learning and growing into the Christian He wants us to be, we need to take advantage of every opportunity.

Now, right this minute, is the accepted time. The reason it is the accepted time is because it’s all we have. We don’t know about tomorrow, if we will even be here to see it. So, if you know you need do more for the Lord, then do it now. If you know you need to adjust your attitude or ask forgiveness to someone you’ve wronged, do it now while you can. The Lord wants so much good for us here, but we have to be willing to trust in and follow Him.

When will your time on earth be over? No one knows. We must live each moment as if it is our last, and that before our heart beats one more time, we will stand at the throne of God. What will we be taking to lay at His feet? Will we be able to say we’ve done what we’ve supposed to do, that we’ve done all we knew to do? I urge you, no matter what you’re facing, no matter what you’re going through, address it right now, before it’s too late. Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We don’t know what the future holds. Time is short.

Do something about it now, and trust Jesus in and for all things.


© 2005, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by writing to soulscape@alltel.net. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.